Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 63: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the level of funding which is available for community alert groups under the scheme of community support for older people in 2009; the funding allocated on a county basis from 2008 to date in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8883/09]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The Community Alert Programme operates under the aegis of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and is a community-based initiative in rural communities dedicated to improving the quality of life of people in rural communities. Community Alert groups work closely with my Department to ensure that older people are supported to provide for the security needs of their homes.

Funds are provided through my Department under the Scheme of Community Support for Older People to assists qualifying older people to offset the cost of installing monitored personal alarm systems, door and window locks, door chains, security lighting, smoke alarms and in the case of qualifying older people living on our offshore islands, interior emergency lighting. The Scheme is open to people aged 65 and over who have a genuine need for assistance and is administered by community and voluntary organisations throughout the country, with support provided by my Department.

Maximum individual grants provided under the Scheme are as follows:

€300 in respect of the once-off installation cost of socially monitored alarms;

€200 in respect of physical security equipment;

€200 in respect of security lighting;

€50 in respect of smoke alarms; and

€150 in respect of interior emergency lighting for qualifying older people living on our offshore islands.

Applications under the Scheme are accepted throughout the year and can be made through any local community and voluntary group. The Deputy should note that eligibility is not confined to Community Alert groups and the Department accepts applications from all Community and Voluntary organisations. Information on such groups is available from my Department and a list of Groups approved under the Scheme in recent years is available on my Department's website — www.pobail.ie.

The Table sets out the level of funding paid under the Scheme to Community Groups in each county for 2008 and for the first two months of 2009.